230 Quick Writing Topics To Try Today

Discover quick writing topics in our expert guide below to help you get started on your next writing project. 

Sometimes the writing process can be incredibly intimidating, especially for beginners. An excellent way to overcome this obstacle is to brainstorm a list of potential topics before you start. This will give you a general direction to start writing in, and you can constantly adjust your focus.

Writing prompts can be a great way to jump-start your imagination if you’re feeling stuck creatively. You can break through writer’s block and develop new and exciting ideas by giving yourself a specific prompt to write about. It might be helpful to read our guide with writing prompts on articles about discovering yourself.

The Writing Process

Every writer has a process that works best for them, so there’s no one way to go about writing a short story, poem, blog article, or any other type of content. However, there are some common steps that most people take when writing, like brainstorming, outlining, researching, writing a first draft, editing, and proofreading. By taking the time to go through each of these steps, you can ensure that your writing is the best it can be.

Why Do We Write?

People write for many reasons, including enjoyment and fun, developing their writing skills, creating important works of literature, and so much more. When you enjoy writing, it shows in your work. Your readers can feel your passion, and it makes your writing more enjoyable for them, too. 

Quick Creative Writing Prompts  

Creative writing is a form that uses imagination to create stories, poems, or descriptions. It’s often considered a form of self-expression and can release emotions, explore new ideas, and connect with others who have a passion for writing. The prompts below are designed to get your creative juices flowing: 

1. Write about an elementary school for kids with superpowers. 

2. Write a story about a child riding a horse for the first time. 

3. Write about the secret life of fairies in the Amazon rainforest. 

4. Write a story about a child who gets lost and finds their way home. 

5. Write about a princess who declines the offer of marriage from a prince. 

6. Tell a story about a mysterious woman in her late forties who goes missing in impossible circumstances. 

7. Write a story about a charismatic and troubled mutant who can see right through people.

8. Write about a mechanic with a strong moral compass who gets hit on by someone at work. 

9. Write about a high school football star who falls in love with the school nerd. 

10. Write about a wedding planner who is absurdly bad at math and makes a huge mistake on her client’s bill. 

11. Tell a story about an obsessive computer hacker who discovers something late at night that could change the world forever. 

12. Tell a comedy-drama story about overcoming insecurities.

13. Write a medieval fantasy story that starts in a busy tavern with someone falling mysteriously ill.

14. Write a political fantasy story about a fortuitous meeting with someone who has a reputation to salvage. 

15. Tell a story about circumstances that test the bond between good friends.

16. Write about three sisters who make a pact with the Devil in Las Vegas at a bachelorette party. 

17. Tell a story about a woman with terminal cancer who invents time travel in a hospital.

18. Write about a small-town waitress kidnapped in Washington, D.C.

19. Tell a story about six bored teenagers who take a spring break vacation that goes horribly wrong.

20. Write about a nervous bride who has a string of bad luck on the way to her wedding.

21. If people had to get a license to have children, what should the questions on the test be?

22. Is it easier to love or to be loved?

23. If you had to become the CEO of a current business, which businesses would you choose and why?

24. What do you strongly suspect but can’t prove?

25. What if you learned you’d inherited an eco-tourism resort in South America, but you were expected to live there and run it full-time?

26. Explain how the value of an object differs from its worth.

27. What if two criminals discovered that people couldn’t tell them apart, and they used this to their advantage when planning their future crimes?

28. Are you really alive or just imagining everything around you? 

29. What do you like about your sense of style?

30. Write about a personal experience you’ve had with God or a higher power.

31. Tell your favorite childhood story.

32. Write a story about a psychic detective that goes missing while on the job. 

33. Tell a story about the daughter of a wealthy business owner who releases a deadly plague.

34. Write about an heiress to a fortune who accidentally grabs the wrong briefcase in a spooky cemetery.

35. Write an action thriller set in the 80s about a troubled artist with a secret. 

36. Write a dramedy about a young man that must fight to protect what he loves when a long-lost friend returns. 

37. Write about a persecuted hero who must aid a queen and find a mysterious power.

38. Tell a story about a criminal mastermind who has a day to work with the police and disarm a bomb.

39. Write about two young lovers who stumble upon a secret door in a nature sanctuary. 

40. Tell a story about running into your past self at the mall and why you were there. 

41. Write from the perspective of an inanimate object you pass by daily.

42. Write a scene where two people with opposing views have a heated argument.

43. Write about someone living an extraordinary life but still feeling restless and unfulfilled.

44. Write about a relationship that starts passionately but ends in heartbreak.

45. Write about someone struggling to keep up with the demands of their high-pressure job and personal life.

46. Write about a character forced to confront an ugly truth about themselves that they’ve been hiding from for years.

47. Write about an event that takes place over a day but changes everything for the characters involved.

Quick Journal Prompts 

Journal writing is recording your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal. This can be done either in a paper journal or on the internet. Journaling can be a helpful way to process your emotions and thoughts and can also be a creative outlet or a way to track your progress and growth over time. Try one of these journal prompts today:

48. Write about a time when a family member hurt you. 

49. Do you believe in a higher power? Why or why not?

50. What is something new you learned recently?

51. What do you want to do 5 or 10 years from now?

52. Do you feel like your dreams have a secret meaning?

53. What does having siblings mean to you?

54. Write about a time you felt betrayed.

55. How does the weather affect your mood?

56. Describe how you would like your life to be in ten years.

57. Write about a time when you found it difficult to forgive someone.

58. What does getting old mean to you?

59. Post an inspirational quote and what it makes you think of.

60. What do you think is your biggest flaw?

61. Would you rather live under a sky with no stars at night or a daytime sky with nothing but clouds?

62. What do you need someone to do for you that no one is doing?

63. What did you have to learn the hard way?

64. What were your three biggest challenges growing up?

65. How will you know when you’re ready to settle down?

66. What would your ideal life look like?

67. What do people consider to be your most unreasonable opinion?

68. What is something you’ve considered doing but are glad you never did?

69. What makes you feel diminished as a person?

70. What helps you emotionally or spiritually recharge?

71. What do you wish you did more of in your life?

72. Write about your parent’s financial status when you were a child and how it affected you. 

73. Write about a fear that prevents you from doing something new or that you love.

74. Do you prefer to spend time with people one-on-one or in a group?

75. List some things you have in common with close friends or family members. 

76. Are you better at forgiving yourself or others? 

77. If you could change one thing about how your parents raised you as a child, what would it be?

Quick Short Story Writing Ideas 

A short story is a piece of fiction typically shorter than a novella and can be read in one sitting. It has a distinct beginning, middle, and end and usually focuses on one main character and a few supporting characters. Short stories are a great way to get your feet wet in the world of writing fiction, and these prompts are ideal for beginners. 

78. Write a short romance between two people who meet at your favorite place. 

79. Write about a road trip a group of friends take across the country. 

80. Write a story from the point of view of someone who’s woken up inside a video game. 

81. Write a horror story about a real-life town that becomes haunted by supernatural creatures. 

82. Write about a middle school student who learns they are adopted after doing a secret DNA test. 

83. Write about someone who is leaving prison after 20 years.   

84. Write about a person haunted by a traumatic experience at sea.   

85. Tell a story about a secret recording that has been made.   

86. Tell a story about a young woman in her late teens making a life-or-death decision.  

87. Write about a single mother who decides to change her life at a party.

88. Tell a story about a young superhero who uses her powers to protect the helpless but gets more than she bargained for.

89. Write about a man who cannot die that meets an unlikely companion. 

90. Tell a story about a battle-scarred warrior who vows revenge against the people who murdered his family in their castle.

91. Write about a foreign exchange student who buys a souvenir that is more than it appears.

92. Write about a corrupt politician kidnapped and held hostage for ransom. 

93. Write about a reluctant bride that gets lost on a sinking ship.

94. Tell a story about three strangers who vow revenge against the people who wronged them in a treacherous jungle. 

95. Write about a comedian that forms an unlikely baseball team.

96. Tell a story of a desperate father who overhears a conversation that changes everything for his spoiled daughter.

97. Write about a recovering alcoholic who breaks a promise to a friend while on a fishing trip.

98. Write about rationalism versus romanticism.

99. Tell a story that begins in an office with someone receiving an unexpected windfall.

100. Write a whodunit story about finding courage again.

101. Tell a horror story that takes place in a location where phone calls cannot be made.

102. Write a story about a witch who no longer has any loyalties.

103. Tell a political fantasy story about coming of age that kicks off inside a dark cave with news of the destruction of the capital.

104. Write a robot fiction story that explores the theme of evolution.

105. Write a military science fiction story about standing up for what is right.

Quick Non-Fiction Writing Prompts 

Non-fiction writing is a type of writing that is based on actual events and facts. Authors use their experiences and knowledge to write about various topics, including history, science, and current events, and often use their work to inform or educate their readers. These prompts can help you get started:

106. Write about your favorite story or the best book you’ve ever read and what you liked about it. 

107. Write about your favorite movie or television show. 

108. Write about the last time you argued with someone else on social media.

109. Write about a true crime case that happened near your area. 

110. Write about the homeless population in America and what life is like for them. 

111. Write about an experience that changed your way of thinking. 

112. If you could pass a law right now, what would it be, and why?

113. How does religion impact your life? 

114. What do you want to change about your life, and how could you do it?

115. Who has changed your life, and how?

116. Describe your favorite place using all five senses.

117. What do you keep in your handbag or wallet?

118. What do you not want to change about your life?

119. Describe the view from your window.

120. Write about something you lost.

121. Describe your childhood bedroom in detail.

122. What is your earliest memory?

123. Write about a strange experience you’ve had that can’t be explained rationally.

124. In a democratic society, should we vote in our best interests or for what we believe is best for society?

125. What is something you wish was real?

126. Write about a time when you admired someone taking the lead in a difficult situation.

127. What effect does social media have on you and the people around you?

128. Explain some of the reasons why people move to different cities when they grow up.

129. Why do you think it’s important to be a person who other people can trust?

130. Do you prefer to stay at home or go out when you hang out with your friends? 

131. Is rewarding children for good grades effective?

132. Write a letter to your future self.

133. Describe a time when you met someone who didn’t get you.

134. Should students be allowed to use phones at school?

135. Will religion ever become obsolete?

136. What is the best way to treat someone you don’t respect?

137. What’s the difference between justice and revenge?

138. Write about the hardest part of being an adult.

139. Write about some unlikely things that make someone a genius. 

140. Join a community cleanup and then describe how connected it made you feel.

141. What’s great about finding money you completely forgot about?

142. Attend a county fair and then describe what you enjoyed the most.

143. Write a message of compassion to yourself, valuing yourself as a unique and worthwhile person.

144. Write about letting go of something that hurts you. 

145. Describe a moment of calm. 

146. Describe a recent moment of enthusiasm.

147. What was your most memorable family gathering?

148. Would you rather live without the internet or dessert for the rest of your life?

149. What would a box that held your hopes and dreams look like?

Quick & Fun Writing Prompts

There are many reasons why writers write for fun. Some people enjoy the challenge of creating something new, while others enjoy the satisfaction of completing a project. Whatever the reason, writing for fun is a great way to express yourself and connect with others who enjoy writing and share similar interests. 

150. What would happen if you were stranded on a desert island? 

151. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

152. Where would you go in history if you had access to time travel?

153. What would you do if you came across a talking animal?

154. How would you react if you were told only you could save the world?

155. How would you do it if you had the power to change one person’s life? 

156. If you had a choice, what would you dream about tonight?

157. If you came into a large amount of money, what would you do with it?

158. What is in your fridge right now?

159. List three things that make someone attractive to you. 

160. What subject could you talk to somebody endlessly about?

161. If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?

162. If you fly in your dreams, how do you do it?

163. What do you do when you are happy?

164. What small, insignificant things bring you joy?

165. What movie do you connect with most?

166. If there was a window into your heart, what would people see?

167. Write what would happen if you received an invitation to join a secret club that translated elven texts that pointed to a lost city.

168. What if you saw a vision of your future every time you looked in the mirror?

169. What if you found a secret passage in your house that led to a different period in time?

170. Write about a woman who meets a fortune teller who predicts that good fortune is about to find her, but only if she completes three frightening tasks. 

171. Write about a person who wakes up one morning from a coma of 6 years.

172. Tell a story about dangerous things that are averted when a ship veers off course and vanishes into thin air.

173. Write about what you would do if you found yourself locked in an abandoned mansion with only the front door.

174. Tell a story about a family who gets kidnapped while on vacation. 

175. Write a poem about something that once upset you. 

176. Write about a world where monkeys are stand-up comedians. 

177. Tell a story about someone who falls in love with someone from another social class. 

178. Write about a student who is delighted when he gets the chance to participate in a talent show’s final.

179. Tell a romance story in a world where only women hold positions of power. 

180. Write about a famous psychologist that inexplicably develops a fear of ducks. 

181. How do you feel about public speaking?

182. Write about something you will never do again. 

183. What’s your favorite holiday and why?

184. Write about an important lesson you learned from a friend. 

185. Are you good at keeping secrets?

186. Describe your last petty argument and what made it petty.

187. How comfortable do people seem to be around you?

188. Write a story about a druid who is stubborn to a fault.

189. Tell a tale about an ogre who tends to attract trouble and falls in love with the queen. 

190. Write a story that starts in a restaurant with someone making a misguided promise.

191. Write a story that starts in an Uber with a hostage situation.

More Quick Writing Prompts 

There are many situations in which a writer may need to write fast, like meeting a deadline or capturing a memory or feeling before it fades. Or, a writer may be in a state of flow and want to keep the momentum going. Writing fast can be a valuable skill for writers, and the prompts below can help you develop it. 

192. Who was your best friend in high school, and why?

193. Write about your favorite food and why you like it. 

194. Write a list of adjectives to describe your favorite person. 

195. Write a letter to someone from history. 

196. Write a speech for your high school’s graduation ceremony. 

197. Write an essay about your favorite quote and why it’s important.

198. What kind of animal are you?

199. Write about what you would do if you were invisible. 

200. What would you do if you could never use the internet again? 

201. What is one memory that you wish you could let go of?

202. What does your negative self-talk usually sound like?

203. What puzzles you most about humans?

204. What would concern you most about growing more like your parents?

205. What makes you happy to be alive?

206. What’s something you should throw away but can’t? 

207. Think of a teacher who has inspired you and write about them. 

208. Explain why it’s important to let yourself cry sometimes.

209. Do you think it should be mandatory for people to get their cats and dogs spayed or neutered?

210. What’s one thing you’d like to learn this year?

211. Would you rather lead or follow in a group setting? 

212. Which person from history would you most like to meet?

213. Describe some of the factors you will consider when choosing a university.

214. Do you think our society values personal privacy enough?

215. What words of wisdom do you have for your younger self?

216. Do you think young people today face more or less stress than young people in earlier times?

217. What motivates you the most?

218. What if you woke up tomorrow morning speaking five new languages?

219. If you could spend a day with one of your ancestors, what would you ask them?

220. Which is more humane: hunting wild animals or raising animals for food?

221. Explain some of the benefits of studying arts. 

222. Why is it important to write several drafts of each writing project you undertake?

223. What if you went to the hospital for a routine operation and woke up to discover that they’d performed the wrong surgery on you? 

224. Explain the steps you would take to set and accomplish a particular goal.

225. Do you expect the universe to be fair?

226. What’s the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done?

227. What is your opinion on the paranormal?

228. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?

229. What were the funny stories told in your family as you were growing up?

230. Would you want to be famous? 

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